Dad tied down his son at night because he didn’t want him to eat, Florida police say

Florida police say Kenneth Haley abused his young son, whom he would tie down at night to keep from eating, and that Haley’s mother Carmen Yeomans took part in it as well. Baker County Sheriff's Office

Florida police say Kenneth Haley abused his young son, whom he would tie down at night to keep from eating, and that Haley’s mother Carmen Yeomans took part in it as well. Baker County Sheriff's Office

Police say that led the school resource deputy to talk to the boy, and to enlist the investigative assistance of the Florida Department of Children and Families. The boy attends Westside Elementary School in Glenn St. Mary, Florida, according to WSB-TV2.

He had bruising above his left eye and behind his ear, police say, as well as a cut on the left side of his forehead.

While talking to the boy, officials learned that he was suffering “severe” abuse from his father and grandmother Carmen Yeomas, police say. According to the press release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged mistreatment included Haley tying down the boy at night so he wouldn’t eat.

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“The child had several injuries to his body, some of them very serious and in need of medical attention,” police wrote.

Police say there was additional evidence of the abuse at the boy’s home, from which four other children between the ages of 3 and 7 were removed. Authorities arrested Yeomans and Haley, who had already violated probation for a previous charge of child neglect, in connection to the alleged abuse, according to the press release.

Rebecca Rhynehardt, whose child went to the same school as the abused boy, said the incident shocked her, according to WSB-TV2.

“I was in disbelief, for sure, because I know for me with my child I’m very protective over him,” she said, “so I don’t know what goes through people’s minds.”

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics show that more than 700,000 children are referred to child protective agencies as a result of abuse or neglect in the U.S. each year. According to Purva Grover, M.D., a pediatric eme